Artificial limb



April 23, 945. 1.. c. THORNTON 2,398,977

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Jan. 11, 1945 1 mum/ Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED STATE S- PATENT OF Fl'CE ARTIFICIAL LIME- Loxla C'. Thornton, Fresno, Calif.

Application January 11, 1945,'Serial 1N0. 57.2;355

(ci. s 12 4. Claims.

This invention relates to improvements inartificial limbs, and more particularly to a novel mechanical hand.

An object of my invention is to provide an artificial hand having mechanical means foreperating two relatively movable jaws in a manner whereby objects may be conveniently picked up, held and released.

Another object of my invention is to provide an artificial hand of the kind characterized, embodying, in addition to two relatively movable jaws, novel means for pickingup, holding and releasing an object other than that which might be then held by the jaws.

A further object of my invention is to provide an artificial limb havinga number of mechanical arrangements which permit the simultaneous in the appended claims, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of an artificial limb which is representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for the purpose of illustration only, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fi l is a front elevation of an artificial limb embodying the preferred principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 designates a supporting member which in practice is ordinarily carried by the remaining part of a persons arm. Secured to the supporting member I is a depending rigid member 2 which is provided near its upper end with an outwardly disposed protuberance 3 and at its lower end with an angular jaw 4. Pivotally secured as: at 5 to the upper end of the rigid member 2 is a movable depending member G-having an angular jaw 1 at its lower end which normally engages with the fi-xedjaw4s Suitable spring means-8; shown forillustration purposes as embodying a rubber bandencirclingthe fixed member'2and the movable member 6, tends to urge the movable jaw 1' toward the fixed'jaw 4. The spring means- 8 is normally lodged in suitable grooves provided in the members 2- and 6, and the protubera-nces 3 and e on the said members, respectively, provide abutments which prevent the upward shift-- ing ofthe said spring-means. The jawsin their engaging positions aredisposed at a slightangle with respect ,to one another,- thereby permittingonly their upper ends to contact with one another. A gradually widened interveningspace 10 is thereby provided between'the jaws, which is enclosed at its lower end by an inwardly projecting member I I carried'by the fixed member 2. The member ll provides'a support for articles positioned between and engaged by the jaws."

Pivotally secured as at I 2 to an outwardly protruding boss carried by and located between the ends of the movablemember 6, is a bifurcated. lever I3, the outer end ofwhich is connected by links M to a strap l5'thatextends across theback of the person wearing-the device and-is looped .around or.is otherwise secured to his oppositeIshoulder. An upward pull on the strap 15, occasioned by a suitableflexing of the-shoulder muscles or by otherwise exerting a pullthere= on will actuate the lever l3 about the pivot [2 so its bifurcated end I6 is moved toward an inwardly disposed protuberance I! carried by the rigid member 2. The lower side of the bifurcated end I6 of the lever I3 and the upper side of the protuberance I! are curved in opposite directions so as to provide suitably shaped complementary surfaces for effectively engaging with round, cylindrical or other shaped objects held therebetween. An upward pull on the strap l5 will cause the bifurcated end 16 of the lever 3 to firmly engage with an object placed between it and the protuberance H. A pin I8 projecting from opposite sides of the movable member 6 is so arranged as to provide a stop for the lever I3, thereby limiting its pivotal movement when the strap is pulled upwardly. The position of the stop pin I8 is such that the bifurcated end iii of the lever I3 is not allowed to proceed downwardly beyond the protuberance ll. A continued upward pull upon the strap 15 after the lever is prevented from further pivotal movement by either the stop pin H3 or by an object engaged and held between the bifurcated end It; and the protuberance II, will cause the movable member 6 to be actuated against the pressure of the spring means 8 and about the pivot 5 in a direction away from the fixed member I, thereby opening the jaws 4 and '1 and thus permitting an object to be placed therebetween for subsequent engagement and holding. A release of the upward pressure on the strap IE will enable thespring means 8 to return the movable member 6 toward the fixed member 2 and thereby efiect the firm engagement of the jaws with an object positioned therebetween.

The lever l3, opposite the pivot I2, is provided with a depending rigid arm l9 which is normally positioned in parallel and engaging relation with respect to the member 6. The arm I9 is preferably bent outwardly between its ends to provide a space for the positioning of an object to be held therein. The pivotal movement of the lever l3 in a manner effecting the downward movement of its bifurcated end IE will cause the arm l9 to be moved outwardly from the member 6. Suitable spring means, shown for illustration purposes as a rubber band 20 encircling the member 6 and the arm l9, serves to return the arm to a position against the member and to also return the lever to an inclined position whereby its bifurcated end 16 is raised above the protuberance H. The spring means 28 operates automatically to return the lever l3 to its normal position after the upward pressure on the strap [5 is released. While I have shown rubber bands as the automatic spring means for'actuating the movable member 6 and the lever I3 back to their normal positions, it is apparent that other types of resilient or mechanical means may also be used successively for this purpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an artificial limb, a fixed jaw having a projecting member thereon, a movable jaw arranged for relative movement toward and away from the fixed jaw, a lever pivotally mounted on the movable jaw and having an object engaging member arranged for movement toward the projecting member of the fixed jaw, means connected to the lever for actuating it and also the movable jaw, whereby the object engaging member of the lever may be moved toward and into an object engaging relation with respect to the projecting member of the fixed jaw, and the movable jaw may be operated away from the fixed jaw.

2. In an artificial limb, a fixed member having a fixed jaw and a fixed object engaging member, a movable member carrying a, movable jaw ar-- ranged for engagement with the fixed jaw, a lever member pivotally mounted on and carried by the movable member and arranged for clamping engagement with respect to the fixed object engaging member, means connected to the lever for actuating it into clamping relation with respect to the fixed object engaging member, the said means being arranged to also actuate the movable member in a direction whereby the movable jaw is disengaged from the fixed jaw, spring means for urging the jaws toward one another, and separate spring means for urging the lever in a direction whereby it is not in clamping relation with respect to the fixed object engaging member.

3. In an artificial limb, clamping jaws arranged for clamping relation with respect to one another, means for urging the-jaws into clamping relationship, a projecting member carried by one of the jaws, a pivoted lever carried by the other jaw and arranged for independent pivotal movement and for clamping engagement with respect to the projecting member, common means for actuating the lever in a direction whereby a clamping relationship is effected with the projecting member and for also effecting a relative separation of the jaws, and spring means for urging the lever in a direction away from the projecting member.

4. In an artificial limb, two relative movable members having jaws arranged for clamping relationship, means for urging the jaws toward each other, a pivoted lever carried by one of the members and having a clamping jaw, a fixed clamping projection carried by the other relatively movable member and arranged for clamping relationship with the clamping jaw of the lever, spring means for urging the lever in a direction whereby its jaw is separated from the clamping projection, and common means actuated by a continued pressure for first moving the lever whereby its jaw effects a clamping relationship with respect to the clamping projection, and secondly, moving that relatively movable member which carries the lever in a direction whereby its jaw is moved away from the jaw of the other relatively movable member.

LOmA C. THORNTON. 

